Machine-gun mounting



F. w. SCARFF; MACHINE sun moumms;

M'PLICAHON FILED JULY 30. I920.

Patented Jan. 4,1921.

6 sum-sum I.

F. W. SCARFF.

MACHINE GUN MOUNTING. APFLHIATION FILED JULY 30. 1920.

Patented Jan. 4,1921.

F. W. SCARFF. momma GUN MOUNTING. APPLICATION FILED JULY 30. [920.

Patenmd Jan. 4,1921.

6 SHEETS-4M '3.

wmwvsw Patented Jan. 4, 192

e sums-4am 4.

F. w. SCARFF. MACHINE mm MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY30. 1920.

. & a 8 a mm F. W. SCARFF.

MACHINE GUN MOUN'HNG. Arvucmou man xuu'ao, 1920.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

a ar/4 2i ESHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTOR- HTToRN: Ya.

UNITED FREDERICK WILLIAM SGARFF,F (st No i: imnsiivetron. Lonno v, jam- ASSIGNOR;TO. VICKERS LIMITED, or -WES'1 M IN STEB,=I4QNDQK,YENQLAND.

a a-Goa Specification 01 Letters I'fa'teiit.

Application filed July so, 1920. Serial at. 400,154, 2 I "1' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fniini nIonWiLLmM Britain, residing at 18 St. Charles Square,

North Kensington, in the county of London,

-England, have invented certain new and-1158f i'Jul I'm )rovements in and Relating to Ma-v chine-Gun l\"l ountings, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to machine gun mountings more particularly designed for use upon aeroplanes or other vehicles and of the kind comprising an elevating arm or bracket upon which the. gun is mounted and which is carried by a horizontally rotatable member.

The ii'iv'ention' consists of. a mounting of the kind referred to in which a single hand operated control lever is adapted. to ell'eet' the release of a rotatable ring from a fixed ring or the like and the elevating armirom its retaining device, the release of the afore; said members being either simultaneously eflected or one afteretlie other, preferably the ring before the elevating arm, the latter form of release having the advantage that it is a simple matter for the operator to move the gun and supporting rin intoany desired position without the balance of the elevating arm and parts carried thereby being upset, so that t 1e ring when free can be rotated carrying around the elevating arm and gun or guns without the operator hav ing to apply simultaneously some force to maintain the balance. When-the ring isin the required horizontal position, the elevating arm can then be unlocked for adjustment in the vertical plane. i

The invention further consists in adapt ing the mounting as above described to t-ake either one or more guns as required. I

The invention further consists in a mounting of the kind referred to in which an elastic cord or cords are provided and:ar ranged in such a way that the turning moments in the vertical plane due to the weight oi': the elevating arm and parts carriedthereby and due tothe tension 'in the-cord or cords are substantially equal and opposite.

In the preferred form the methodoi: arrang- --independent Ofri l'lG mounting.-

' ing drawings.-

varm. Fig. 6 is anelevation of Figr5.

lower the elevating ar n fcarrying l fi fi f i more gllllSnfi The invention further consists in-a mountprovision ofa trunnioni device for carrying 7 tw guns on amounting of 'theab ove' char ving o-fthe abovecharaeter in which one or I v I acter llLWlll ClI each gun can traverse about ja .separate pivot, wh lethe guns as a unit 1 lca'tnelevate or depressabout a'co, in1non axis,

the guns being cross connected bylan auto-I natically adji'istable linkwork' or other de vice to' allow the gii'ns 'to be parallel in all positions, while -,havinguniversal movement 5 .The invention still further; consists of other detailsand arrangements hereinafter descr bed Wll-ll reference:to"the.accompany lnthese drawings Figures 1 andflare a "part 'planfin part section, and part sectional elevation of one form constructed-in accordance with the invention and adaptedto take either one or two 'guns;'f' Figs. 3 and 4 are similar. views of an alternative eonstructioi'i,

one of the principal diilereno'esbeing that I in the former case the locking segments for the elevating armareseeuredtothe 'rota-' table ring and-always project above the ring,

while illthe latter case,- "thefllocking seg sition. -Figiii is a plan view of a trunnion device ada ited to be fitted in a mounting shown in .1 igs. 1 to 4 for enabling two machine guns to be ;.earried by the elevating Fig. 7 is an elevation ofacrosshead maintaining two guns in parallelism in all positions. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail .view of the operating hand lever fixed onthe elevating arm.

1 Fig-10 is a part sectional elevation of'another form of mounting adapted to take two guns. Fig.

llis a detail view showing the arrz-mgei'nent for fitting one "gun in place of the 'two.

1 0 5 Figs. 12,113 and 14 are views'o'f details, 4

Fig. 12 being shown partly in section. Fig' 15 is an elevation on a smaller scale'illusv 4 trating another form of mountigg. Fig. 16

.is aplan'view Fig. iigs 17', 1 8-,-

' 19 and 20 are detail views drawn to a larger Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 9, the mounting consists of a horizontal fixed ring 1 which is shown to be of channel section and on this. ring revolves a second ring 2. also substantially of cl'zannel section, flanged rollers 3 being carried by the rotatable ring torun upon the ring 1.

The rotatable ring is provided with two brackets t carrying cylindrical bearings 5 to which are secured pins 6 on which turn the forked ends ofa tubular elevating arm 7 bent to a U shape. This provides for the pivoting of the elevating arm on the rotatin ring.

Iwo pairs of toothed segments 8 are secured totherotatable ring, one pair on each. side of the center line of the mounting and the members of each pair one on each side of the-elevating arm, each pair of toothed segments being engaged by a locking pin 9 carried by the'elevating arm and adapted to. be moved into or out of engagement with the segments as will be hereinafter described.

The outer end of each segment is provided with a guide '10 to receive an elastic cord 11, this'cord passing over two grooved pulleys 12, two on each side of and carried by the elevating arm and the free ends being taken under grooves 13 on the forked ends of the elevatiiw arm and then being secured together underneath a guide plate 14 secured to the bracket 1.

, Centrally :atthe head of the elevating arm is secured a bracket 15 Fig. .9 on which is pivoted a. hand lever 16 and on which are rotatably mounted two pulleys 17. The inner end of the lever 16 is provided with a grooved boss or pulley 18 and over the pulleys 17 and under the boss or pulley 18 passes a flexible wire or the like 19. this wire-being housed within the hollow elm-nting arm and having its two ends taken to the mechanism 0 crating the locking devices of the ring 2 ant the elevating arm'7. Each end of the wire 19 is ecured to a-scrcwed rod 20 on which a sleeve 21 and adjusting nuts 20 are mounted. The rod 20 passes through :1. lug 22, one part of which is secured to a. hollow rod 23 passing into the elevating arm and carrying at its upper end the locking The lug 22 is pivotally attached to a bell crank 24, pivoted to the bracket l, and the toe of the bell crank engages under a sprin plunger 25 carrying at its end a locking'pin ,26 sliding in a guideway in the rotatable ring and adapted to engage in holes '27 in the fixed ring 1. The bell crank is under the action of a spring 28 which normally tends to keep its toe in a down position to cause the locking pin 9 to engage the toothed segments 8. The spring plunger 25 is mounted in a suitable housing 29 on the bracket 1.

On the hand lever 15 being grasped by the operator to displace it, the tension thereby put on. the wire 1 by the displacement of the part 18 on the hand lever, draws the rods 20 within the elevating arm. and the lugs 22 turn the hcl I. cranks so that the toes thereof .move the plungers 25 inward of" the housings the locking parts 9 and 26 will engage their respective parts to lock the elevating arm and rotatable ring.

The advantage of employing the. spring 28 is that it makes the engaging of the pins 9 always certain, even if the pins 26 are not registering with two holes in the lixed ring, a slight displacement of the rotatable ring causing one or both of the pins 26 to engage in hole or holes 2? in the fixed ring.

It will be observed that as the elevating arnris turned on the pins 6, the pulleys 12 over which the elastic cords puss swing about the same center as the weight of the gun, so that the distai'ices at which i the weight ofthe elevating arm and gun or guns and the opposing forces due to'the tensions in the elastic cords act about the pivots of the elevating arm, vary in constant proportion, so that the elevating arm with the gun or guns carried thereby is counterbalanced in any of its positions.

At the head ofthe elevating arm a tubular socket 30 is secured in which a single gun may be mounted such as by a pillar 31 adapted to rotate in the socket ,30 and having the gun 32 mounted on a. horizontal pivot 33, thus providing a universal movement of the gun independently of the movement of the mounting.

\Vhen two guns are required to he mounted these are mounted on a trunnion device in a manner hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 which show a modified construction to that shown in Figsl 1 and 2, it will be observed that the segments 8 are carried by-thc elevating arm so that when the elevating arm is down the segments are housed within the body of. the aircraft or vehicle.

Further in this constmction a slightly di'lierent arrangement for locking thesegment is shown. In this case a single segment only is provided on each side of. the elevating arm and is provided with perforations 3s: into which a. pivoted locking arm 35 can engage. This locking arm is mounted on a pivot 35 carried by the rotaissue? table ring 2 and is -un 1'1-.;am ection of a spring 36 always tending to cause enga gement of the arm with these ment fif. V

The method of mounting t1e 'gun"on-the@ pin leaves the enlarged par-t 53'v0f the slot elevating arm and the arrangement of the hand control lever 16 is the same as that previously described, and the sameparts are referrcd to by the same numerals The screwed rod 20 connected ble wire 19 passing through the .elevating the toe of which engages a, spring plunger 25 with a locking. pin. 26 similar to'that hereinbefore described' Pivoted to the bell crank 24: is a in 37 engagingorsecured to a rod'38, having at its outer/end the aforesaid locking are-1'35.

In this construction, only one elastic cord I I 1 cleared and any. necessary repairs done 11 is shown for each lim'b'of the." elevating arm, the cord being secured to the end of the segment 8*. and pass ng over a pulley 12 on the rotatable ring 2'andhaving the other end secured to this ring asindicated at 39;

Referring 'now to Figs. 5, (3,

as shown, in Figs. 1 1- provided with asin' gle gun socket 30, in order to enable two (runs to be carried by such mounting. The (.evic'e eonsistsof a carrier 40 provided with a, pair of lugs 40 through which. pass U bolts 41 adapted to en age around the elevating arm 7, the be ts passing through wood checks ll. beddingbetween the lugs 40 and the elevatinv mam IA central bolt 42 passes through the socket 30, on the elevating arm, and through a central aperture in the carrier 40, the upper end receiv-- iu 'a nut 43 to securethecarrier on the bolt. The carrier is provided with two vertical arms 44- with half bearings 4.4" to ceive a cross shaft 4C5, the bearings being completed by caps 41.6 which are secured by bolts to the. half bearings 44th The ends of the cross shaft 45 are provided withforks 4:7 to receive pins 18 on whichguu carriers 49 are mounted. shaped to conform to the type of gun used. flhose shown in. the drawings are suitable for thelLewis type of gun as stripped for the air, and are shown with vertical tubes 50 to receive a sighting device. These gun carriers per se form no. part of this invention.

iltthe rear, the two guns are cross cou nccted by an adjustable rod 51. with the ends pivotally mounted to forks 52, adapted to fix on the usual spade grips or other suitable parts. of the gun. The pivots between the forks52 and the-rod 51 are arranged to be detachable to allow of the rod to the fiexie 7 and 8 which J illustrate a device for use with a mounting" lixed rin innerdian'ieter of the top flange) Thesegun carriers are.

theforkbil *By operating 55 to the pin'354g outward the enlarged partof the 53 so that the end of the rod 51 can be with? the cross [shaft145 whil efat the same time drawn through the slot-clear of the pini54. 'It .Willjbe seen b'ythis construction that; theiguns can rotate in the vertical ph -neon. I

they can 'rotate' in the horizontalv plane;

about the pivots 48, and by. the crossconnectionof'the rod 51 and forks 52, the gunsare always parallel in all positions. ll so should either of the guns jamby withdraw .ing the pivot-pin 54c adjacent to this gun, H thecrossrod 5l-can be disconnected from" this. gunyso that the'T-jam can be readily without disturbing .the operation of the other gun, l

Referring-now'fto Figs, 10,12, 13, 'let; p which illustrate another construction of mounting arrange-(Ito talcetwo guns, the; l'is more or lessof '2 section and.

is provided with: a .verticalrib 1" on the.

This'rin fis perforated in the-w ior lightening in addition to tl ie necess'ary holes in the upper flange for locking the two rings 5 'to ether, 1

. 'tllherotatable rin 2 is of chai'inel section and. is provided witli sets of. horizontal and YGllllCfl l rollers 333'. shown asof a ball bcar ing typewhjrh respectively run on the rib 1 and on theinner .part of the lower flange of the fixed ring 1. To thering 2 secured a notched segment 5 6 the upper end of. whichis supported by abracket 57- alsosecured tethering I It wiII-beobserverl t at the-segment the bracket 57 and the base things 58 form a triangular member and if desired these three.

parts may be made integral and secured to the ring 2 by means of the baseflange. The elastic cord ll has its ends bound togetherand retained undera projecting part or guide platel l formed integral with the base flar 1ge58,, the two parts of thecord then i pulleys 13 on the member-57, then down passing around upper and lower pairs of through the guide clip 7 on the elevating. arm. The cordexerts an upward pull on the elevatingarm suliicient to balance the weight of the arm and guns in anyposition.

"lobala-nce' for one or two guns,.a second guide clip .7? is provided on the elevatingarmand' a SG()0I1(l,l1()lQ 57!! in the bracket 57 'for a second position of-the upper pair of pulleys 13.

, It. will be: seenthat the elastic cord thus forms a continuous lo'o The method of 'assen'i ling the elastic cord is as follows: The .cord is passed under the l pyZ h evet ng, we. a th two.

.. ward along-the bracket '57 to the lower pair of pulleys 13, thence alongthe base of the bracket where the ends are bound together in any suitable way and. retained under the proiection '14 integral with the base flange 58.

The arrangement of operating the locks for the ring and the elevating arm is-similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 which has been previously described; The -flexible wire 19 passes over a pulley "59 mounted on a bell crank 60' on theelevating arm '7 and then to a tension adjuster 6-1 which is connected to one end of a 'bent arm 62, the-other end of the arm carrying a locking pin 63 adapted to engage the notches of the segment 56. The arm 62 is connected to one end of a spring 64, :the other endof which is anchored 'as at 65 to the elevating arm 7. The he'll-crank 60 is provided with a toe 66 engaging an enlarged hollow -head 67 on a locking pin 68, which when registering-with a hole in the outer flange of the ring 1, locks the rings 1 and 2 together. This pin is under theaction of a weak return spring 69 alwa-ys tending to force the pin 68 into a locking position. The enlarged head 67 fits over a pin 70 on the bracket 57 and about this pin the elevating arm pivots.

The action is as to lows: On tension being applied to the wire 19 by the operation of the hand lever 16, the bell cranks 60 are rotated to lift the toes 6G and raise the heads (-37 of the pins 68, to disengage the pins from the fixed ring 1, the travel of the pins and the hollow heads being continued until the lower ends of the heads abut against the pins 70. the rings 2 being unlocked from the ring 1 just before -or at the instant the outward movement of the heads 67 is arrested. W hen the movement of the toes 66 of the bell cranks 60 is-arrested any further tension on the wire 19 will now cause it to render around the pulleys 59 and so draw the bent arms 62 and the locking pin 63 awayfrom the toothed segments 56, against the action ofthe spring Get so that the elevating arm becomes unlocked from the segments 56 and can then be adjusted in position in the vertical plane. On the tension being relieved, the first action is to allow the spring (55': to bring the arms 62 and the pins 63 back again to lock the elevating arm to the segments '56, the next action being for the spring 69 -to"return the locking pins inward to lock the rings 1 and Qtogether.

To the elevating arm 7 is welded a pair of sockets 71 one on each side of the center line of the arm. In each socket is secured a pillar'72 with a threaded entension73 to receive a nut 74:. The pillars-7 2 carry half bearings 75 for a cross shaft 76 passing between the pillars 'andprovided at each end with a fork 7'! to whicht'hc un carrier 78 is pivoted by means of a. pin (9, this arrangement being substantially similar to the arrangement of mounting the two guns on the carrier it do scribed with reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 8.

For connecting the two gunsat the rear to be parallel, while at the same time allowing either gun .to be disconnected for clearing jams or making any necessary repairs, a cross connected :tubular bar 82 meshes with two oppositely-threaded rods each having an eye 84 connected to a fork-85 by a withdrawable spring plunger 86. One end of the plunger is provided with a cap or head 87 between which and an abutment on the fork 85 .a spring 88 is provided. The other end of the plunger is reduced to fit through a circular hole formed in the fork 85, one or more recesses or keyways leading from the hole. At right or any other desired angle with respect to the keyways-are one or more recesses 85) which normally are engaged by one or more lugs 90 on the end of the plunger. By pressing the-plunger outward the lugs 90 are disconnected from the recesses 89, and the plunger can then be rotated to bring the lugs 90 into line with "the aforesaid kcyways, whereupon the plunger can be withdrawn from the fork, thus allowing one gun to be disconnected from the other. The rear ends of the forks 85 are secured to a suitable part of the rear ends of the guns such as by a bolt and nut arrangement shown.

Should only one gun he .rrx u'ired on the mounting, the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.1 is used, in this case the gun carrier being pivoted vertical on a fork 80 which is horizontally pivoted as at 81 to a pillar 72 secured. in the socket 71 as hereinl'iefore described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 11 represents the same mounting as shown in Fig. 10, but where only one socket is used in the elevating arm, so that the cross shaft 75 in this case is obviously unnecessary.

Referring now to Figs. 15 to 20, the sections of the inner and outer rings are of somewhat similar form to those shown in Fig. 10, with horizontal and vertical ball bearing rollers.

The elevating arm 7 is pivoted to a. triangular frame 91 secured to the rotating ring 2, and the arm carries toothed segments 92 'to engage with locks carried by the ro lating ring. I

A hand lever 16 operatii'ig the wire 19 z-u'rz'inged as described with reference to Fig. 9 is employed. Each part of the flexible wire 19 passes over a pulley 98 at the extremity of each limb of the elevatingarm, thence to a pulley 9d on a bell crank 95 pivoted to the aforesaid triangular frame 91, the endof the wire being secured to an adj ustable threaded rod -96 whieh is connected by a-cross member 91 to a rod 798"" under the action of a. spring 99. y y

The toe of each bell crank 95 engages underneath aspring'plunger carrying a locking pin 101passing through a guideway in the rotatable ring 2 and 21.tltt])t(3(lli0 engage in oneor other of the holes in the fixed ring 1.

The rod 98 is connected to a locking meni her 102 pivoted as at 103 to the triangular. frame'9l, the member 102 -being 'adaptedf'..

to engage with the toothed segment 92.

The operation is as follows On the hand lever 10 being operated to put tension on the two parts of the flexible wire 19, each bell erank95 is rotated to withdraw the its spring 99. The inward movementofthe rod 98 turns the locking member 102 on its pivot 103 to withdraw it from the tooth-of the locking segment 92, whereupon .the =elevatmg arm can beraised or lowered as de sired. On releasing the hand lever "16 the locking member 102 is brought by the ac-f tion of thespring 99 into engagement with the segment 92, and the spring locking pin 101 is forced outward to lockthe horizontal rings together.

The elastic cord 11 counterbalancing the weight of the elevating arm and: parts car; ricd thereby is arranged as follows: Eachend 11 is anchored to a cross pin 104: on,

the triangular frame'91, and the, cord passes over a guide 105 on the frame 91, then I downward over a pulley 106 on the segment 92, upward over a pulley 107 on the same' pin or center 108 aboutwhi'ch the elevating arm turns thence to a hooltformed on the upper end of the/segment 92. The cord is arranged to exert a pull tending to lift the elevating arm and the pulleys 106 can be adjusted in one' or other of the holes 109 provided in the radial arm of the segment 92 in order to balance varying weights such as one or two guns on the elevating arm. n

The triangular frame is suitably padded on the inner surface to prevent the operator bruising his body when pressing it against the frame to asslst when turningvthe ring.

The rear ends ofthe guns arecross connected in a manner similar to the arrange.

ment described above with reference to Fig. 12, but the arrangement for release shown in Fig. 19 is slightly modified. In this case the fork 85 referred to in description of Fig. 12 is provided with a rod 110 which has an enlargement 110 adjacent to the fork, and a threaded outer end 110* to mesh with a threaded handle 111 provided with an extension 111". *The-enlargement 110 an extension 111 at a r'eaa'es- 112311 2; part 113 secured to the rear end of the gun,

this part 113 ;'bei11g slotted between there I cesses, On sjlackingback the handle 1115* .sulliciently to alloWthe part'sll Ofi and 111' to become clear of tlie recesses in,tl ie )art;

113,- the rod 110 can swung cleario the,

part '113 thusdisconnecting'onegun fromthe 0am," ,o I v What I clain'l and desire to Secure by Let ters liatent'ot the United 'States is the com- 1'. 'In a. machine gun mounting,

bin'atioir with a rotatable training member, i

and an' eleva-ting member .upon which the gun is mounted and wlnch'ispivoted w the elevating mei'nb'cr, 'a hand operated 'con trol device and means whereby the 'opera-q. 5 lng means to moved to the r releas ng f tion of said device causes both of saidilockpositions.

said training member, of two 'sets' of ;lock

ing devices 'one for 'locking-; the training member and the other for locking 'the e1 e-- 9 vating member, a single hand operated control membe'rand means whereby the opera;

tiou of the last mentioned member causes H both setsof lock ng devices to be moved'ftoh their releasing positirmsf i f 3. In. .a machine gun mou nt ing,"thecom bination with a rotatabletrammg member so said traii'iing member, of locking means V for thetralning member,- locking .niea1 1s for *2. In a machine gun mounting, the com bln'at on with a rotatable training. member and an elevating member upon which the do" gun is mounted and which 'ispivoted to -vand an elevating member upon which the gun is mounted and'whioh is pivoted to;

said'training member, of two sets of lock 4 ing 'devices one .for looking the training member and the other for lock ng the .ele-

rating member, a single hand operated con-' trol member and means wherebythe opera tion ofthe last, mentioned member causes I both setsot locking devices to be moved simultaneously to their releasing; positions.

'1. In a'machine gun mounting; the'combination with a rotatable training member gun is. mounted and whichfis pivoted to and an elevating member upon which the said training meniber, o'it't wo sets of lockmg devices one for locking the trainlng member. andthe other for locking the ele-. rat ng member, a single hand operated control member and means whereby the opersaid sets of locking devices to be movedin succession to their releasing positions.

5. In a machine gun mounting, thecomj-l v 4 and an elevating member upon Wl1lClitl18:'

bination with-a rotatable'training' member.

gun ismounted and which'is pivoted to said training member, of two sets of lock ing devices one forjlocking the training; memberand the other for locking the ele- 1'20 ation of the last mentionedmember causes- 2o their releasing positions.

vating member, a single hand operated control member on the elevating member, a wire operated by the said control member and means whereby the operation. of the said wire by the control member causes both sets of locking devices to be moved to their releasing positions.-

' 6. In a'machine gun mounting, the combination with a'1'ot:-'..ta.l' le training member and an elevating member upon which the gun is mounted. and which is pivoted to said training member, of two sets of lockingdevices one for locking the training member and the other for locking the elevating 1nen-1ber,;a single hand operated control member on the elevating member, a wire operated by said control member and means i'vhereby th'e operation of the said wire by theco'ntrol member causes both sets of looking devices to be moved simultaneously to 7. In a machine gun mounting, the combination with a rotatable training member and an. elevating member uponwhich the gun is mounted and which is pivoted to. said training member, of two sets of locking device's one for locking the training member and the other for locking the elevating member, a single hand operated control member on the elevating member, a wire operated by the said control member and means whereby the operation of the said wire by the control member causes said sets oflocking devices to be moved in succession I to their releasing positions.

8.-In a machine gun mounting, the combination with a rotatable training member and an elevating member upon which the gun is mounted and which is pivoted to said trainingmember, of two sets of locking devices one for locking the tramlng member and the other for locking the elevating member, a single hand operated control member on the elevating member, a

wire operated by said control member and means whereby the operation of the said wireby the control member causes said sets of locking devices to be moved in succession to their releasing positions. the locking device for the train-inc member being moved toits releasingpositiom before the locking device for the elevating member is so moved.

9. In a machine gun mounting", the combination with a rotatable trainingring and an elevating arm upon which the gun is mounted and which is pivoted to saidtraining ring, of two sets of locking devices one for locking-the training ring and the other for locking the elevating arm.- a single hand operated control member and means whereby the operation of the last mentioned mem- ..ber' causesboth sets of locking; devices to be moved to their releasing positions.

'10. Ina machine gun mounting, the-com.- blnation. with a. rotatable training. member and an elevating member upon which thegun is mounted and which is pivoted to said training member, 01" two sets of locking devices one for locking the training'member and the other for locking the elevating member, a single hand operated control member, meanswhereby the operation of the last mentioned member causes both sets of looking devices to be moved to their releasing positions and anti-frictioi'i elements between said training member and the part by which it is supported.

11. In a machine gun mounting, the combination with a rotatable training member and an elevating member upon which the gun is mounted and which is pivoted to said training member, 015 two sets of locking: tie-- vices one for locking the training member and the other for locking the elevating member, a single hand operated control member, means whereby the opei'ationot the last mentioned 1116111381 causes both setsof locking devices to bemoved to their releasing positions, and rollers interposed between said training member and the part by which it is supported.

12. In a machine-gun mounting,.the combination with a rotatable training member and an elevatingmember upon which the gun is mounted and which is pivoted to said training men'iber, of twosets of locking delocking devices to be moved to their releasing positions, and two sets of rollers interposed between said training member and a stationary part, the rollers in one set rota ting about horizontal axes and the rollers in the other set rotating about vertical arcs.

13. In a machine gun mounting, the combination with the elements claimed in claim 1 of an elastic member having its extremities fixed relative to the rotatable training 111C111- ber, and being engaged at some portion of its length by a member fixed relative to said elevating member, thereby producing a. moment in the*vertical plane due' to the tension in the said elastic member which is substantially equal and opposite to the turning moment in the vertical plane due to the weight of the elevating member and the parts carried thereby.

14.. In a machine gun mounting, the combination with the elements claimed in claim 1, of a central socket on the ele 'atiug member, a carrier secured to the socket, a trunnion passing through said carrier, means for connecting two guns to thesaid truimi-on so that the guns can traverse about separate axes, the said trunnion serving for the elevation of the two guns sinnlltaneously, and means for connecting said. guns.- together so:

that they can be traversed simultaneous lye about their separate axes;

15. In a machine gun mounting, the combination with the elements claimed'inclaim 1, of a central socket on the elevatingmcm' her, a carrier secured to the socket, a trunnion passing through said carrier, means for connecting two guns to said (IlUDIHOILSO that the guns can traverse about separate axes;

the said trunnion serving for the elevation of the two guns s multaneously, and a detachable device for connecting said vuns tc-t gether so that they can betraversed sunultaneously about their separate axes and one of them disconnected from the other when required.

16. In 'a machine gun mounting thevcombination with the elements claimed 1, of a socket on the elevatin member-and means for connecting a a manner as to be capab e elevating movements.

in claim f fun t iereto in such of traversing and '17 In a inachin e; gun mounting the combination with the elements claimed in 'claim 1, of two sockets on the elevating member,

"means for-connecting a gun'to each of said sockets in such amanner as to be capable of traversing and elevating movements and I means I for connecting said guns together so that they can be' ctraversed simultaneously about separate axes.

18. Ina maclnne' gun mounting, the combination with the elements'claimed 1n claim 1, of twof sockets on the elevating 1nembe1',- uneans'for connecting a gun to veach of said sockets in such a manner as tobe capable of traversing and elevatingmovements,and a f detachable device for connecting said guns,

-' togetherjso that they can be traversed simul I '5 

